Arctic Monkeys

About Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, rhythm/lead guitar), Matt Helders (drums, vocals), Jamie Cook (lead/rhythm guitar) and Nick O'Malley (bass, backing vocals). Former band member Andy Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) left the band in 2006 shortly after their debut album was released.

They were catapulted into the limelight when their first album became the fastest-selling CD in British history (since surpassed). Alex Turner was working at a bar and bands were regularly doing gigs there and they use to sell their demos cds at the exit .The monkeys decided to make their own demos and to give them out.Due to a limited number of cds ,their fans started to upload them on the internet. They were one of the first bands to find fame and recognition purely through internet publicity and social media. Their songs “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “Fake Tales of San Francisco” are indie disco staples.

Their sound has changed extensively from album to album with the only constant being the clever lyrics of frontman Alex Turner.

In the early days of the band, they refused to sign a record contract with any label. Labels and scouts wanted the band to change their songs, but the band refused. The went so far as to refuse scouts guaranteed entry into their gigs. When they finally signed with Domino because of the “do it yourself” attitude of founder, Lawrence Bell, who ran the label from his own house.

The group released their scrappy, uncut debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006, when they first began to gain a following. They followed it up with Favourite Worst Nightmare in 2007, where the band picked up much smoother sounds and tighter, more accessible hooks and melodies. Their most accessible album to date is AM, which contains some of their catchiest and most notable singles, including the Indie hit “Do I Wanna Know?”.

All four band members grew up together in High Green, a northern suburb of Sheffield. They’ve known each other since they were all seven years old. All four members of the band were devoted fans of Hip-Hop when then were younger. For some members, like Alex Turner and Matt Helders, things changed when they heard certain bands. For Alex, it was The Strokes and The Libertines and for Matt, it was seeing Queens of the Stone Age at a local music festival.